Here's what the other side is doing. From Rob Kremer, conservative charter schools activist:

Want to do something concrete to help get Ron Saxton elected? Do you have three hours you can contribute?

Help Ron with his phone bank, calling Republicans and Independents who have not yet turned in their ballots, any time between November 3rd and election day. If you think it's low value labor, you are wrong. This election is likely to turn on GOTV. The campaign best able to make sure its core supporters actually vote will be the winner.

Multnomah County's numbers have been looking pretty good thus far, especially when compared to the statewide numbers (we've been running within 1% of the 2002 numbers, while statewide numbers are 25% off). We need to keep that turnout that high (or higher!) so we can ensure Governor Kulongoski gets re-elected.

So please come on in and help. You can call 503-239-VOTE to schedule a shift or just drop on by. We need 100 canvasses on Saturday and 100 on Sunday here in Multnomah County if we hope to hit the number of voters we need to reach.

I've already seen several people from Blue Oregon at the office. Kari made some calls. Charlie's becoming a regular. Other bloggers have come in as well. Come in and join their efforts. Help re-elect Governor Kulongoski. Help take back the state house. Help keep the state senate.

I just LOVE the quaint idea of donating whenever you folks hear an opinion or comment from someone you don't like or agree with. I especially love the public castigation that your own Democrats suffer when they present an opinion that may seem more mainstream or (gasp!) conservative than your Procrustean overlords would prefer. You want it both ways. You want the Democrat Party to be this big tent of ideas where everyone is loved and cherished and diversity is celebrated... But here at Blew Oregon, you want a tight insular, "water-cooler" where you can voice your exclusionary ideas without fear of having to confront the public and letting them know the deep-seated phobias you possess towards independent thought and honest debate. Soon, you will breed yourselves out of existence. You will become a political Appalachia with three teeth between the lot of you, and even fewer branches on the family tree. You will all whistle to the same tune and all think exactly alike. There will be no improving your ideas, because all dissent and conflict are shut out. Then you will wither.

Go on...write that check to Brading or whoever you want. If the occasional presence of Republicans on this site is the reason you are getting off your dead ass to help your candidates at this point in the game, I don't have much to worry about.

Quite frankly, Democrats might do well this cycle. But I am comforted by one fact. If the D's do take control of whatever chamber or body, they will have to do a lot more than just whine and complain and offer up emotional solutions to real issues. They will have to lead. And I don't see a lot of potential in that department.

Dan, In the over two years since we had BlueOregon we have had many republicans post here frequently, and their opinion is always welcome, albeit wrong. Then we have right wing trolls, people who can use words like "Procustean" correctly but can't be bothered to spell Democratic Party correctly. They come here mainly to insult or to repeat that week's right wing talking points. They come to our political web home, piss on the virtual rug and leave. They are not welcome.

I found your earlier post funny, not trollish. You don't see quotes like "Want to do something concrete to help get Ron Saxton elected? Do you have three hours you can contribute?" very often here on BlueOregon.

But to get back on topic, the turnout numbers I have seen here in Washington County tell me that GOTV is going to be key this year. A low Democratic turnout is the only hope for Republicans, at this point. (And as far as I can tell, it ain't happenin'.)

Ahhh....grammar. The last refuge of a desperate man. (and the previous poster wasn't me. I would hate to take credit for someone else's good sense of humor.)

I guess all them people who can't use good spellin' should be over fighting terrerists in Irak.

To your point, however, I agree. Turnout is always the trump card in this game. Both sides have plenty reason to be motivated, but to the Democrats' collective credit this cycle, it's always more fun to play offense than defense.

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